Automatic relief-valve.



'E. PLOEGEB & J. PENROSL,

- AUTOMATIC RELIEF VALVE. APPL'lcATloN FILED sEPT.25,1914.

Patented Oct. 9,1917.

ERNST LA. PLOEGER AND JOHN PENROSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC minier-VALVE.

Specicationof Letters Patent.

Patented Get.. 9, 1917.

Application filed September 25, 1914. Serial No. 863,591. i

To all whom t may concern: i

Be it known that we, ERNST A. PLononn and JOHN PnNRosn, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oflllinois, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Automatic BelietValves, ot which the ich lowing `is a description.

Qur invention relates tothat general class of devices known as traps or water reliet` valves, employed upon various steam or other systems to discharge water of condensation or other fluid without any unnecessary waste or loss of steam. vention has among its objects the produc tion of a device of the kind describedthat is simple, efficient, durable and satisfactory, which is automatic in operation, and which will not accumulate sediment or foreign material within the valvccasing, nor be` affectedor rendered inoperative by sediment or accumulations of `dirt blowing through the casing. To thisend our invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Iiigure 1 isa partial sectional view of `the preferred form .of our device;

Fig. 2 is across sectional view taken ,substantially on line 2,2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3, 3 ofFig. l.

Referring to the drawings, our device consists of a suitable casing 1, which is provided with a top or cover 2, which, in the preferred form, is made removable. The casing is `provided with an inlet 3 andbutlet 4, the inlet 3 being through an extension v5 at one side oflthecasing, and the outlet e through an `extension 6, arranged centrally at the bottom of the casing. lIt will be particularly noted that the mouth of the outlet is substantially even `witliithe bottoni of the inlet, so that there is no chance for foreign material to accumulate or be obstructed in its passage through the casing. The casing bottom is also made sloping for the vsame reason. Arranged within the casing is a suitable loat member A7, which in the.y form shown, is in the form of an inverted cup and is provided with a depending tubular part `7 at the center, which carries a tubular The invalve member S at its lower end arranged to coperate with a valve seat 10 carried by the casing at the. mouth of the outlet. The valve 8 ristubular in formation and carries oneor more prongs :9, 9, which serve toguide the valve member and center yit during its movementin seating. The valve member 8 and stein 7 may be of one piece, if desired. The valve seat is preferably formed on a separable .piece 11 oi' suitable material, so thatthe valve seat .may be renewed or adjusted from time to time, as may be found necessary. It may be provided with notches 14, or the equivalent, for engagement with a suitable tool in removing or replacing the same. It will be noted that the valve float 7 is open at the bottom, this type oi float bcing found very satisfactory for the purpose.

The float and valve member are supported, centered and guided yat the top by an ad` justable rod or stem 12, which limits the movement of the float, upon `which are arranged spring Vmembers 15 and 16. 1t will be yseen that the springniembers 15 and 16 disposed upon the stem 12 carried by the upperportion of the casing and entering `a central opening in rthei'loat 7 yieldably sup port the float during its movement and also serve to limit the up and down movement of the iioat. The springs causethe valve to have a steady movement whenrising from its seat or returning thereto and prevent the lower end thereof from being tightly jammed upon its seat which would injure the same, and also eliminate any danger of injuring ythe float by forcing the saine into contact with the upper wall of the casing. The spring member 15 is carried by the end 12, whileithe spring 16 is arranged between the float and cover the top 2, the same being supported by the float.

The stein 1:2 projectsthrough the cover and is preferably formedas at 17, or the equivalent, for engagement by a suitable wrench or key, the construction being so that an unauthorizedperson without a key cannot vary the adjustment of the device, (not shown). A-pin 18, or equivalent means, is also provided for limiting the downward movement of stem 12, It desired, a cap 19 maybe arranged asshown over the end 17, so as to keep all dust and dirt from accumulating at the end of stem l2 in the cover, and prevent leakage of air,: steam or water from thercasing. It may be mentioned that the cover is preferably formed in the shape ota nut, as at 20, for convenience in engaging the same with a wrench to remove or replace the cover. Assuming that dicated by the dottedy lines: The steam is free to enterthe valve casing, and owing to the suction ot the vacuum apparatus, any air and a portion of the steam may pass through the topV of the float, about therrod or stein l2, or through the leakage port, Vand down the central chamber, through the valve into the Vdischargev outlet. The opening, however, is so small that the waste ot' steam is insignificant. Should water be discharged into the casingthroughf the inlet and accumulate either gradually or suddenly for any reason in quantities, it will raise the lioat, therebyA raising the valve 8, and the water will tlow through the discharge outlet to where desired. fis the water is discharged the valve will-gradually lower into place, being guided and centered by the rguiding members 9 at the bottom. The stem l2, however, projecting through the top of the iloat, always keeps the Vsmall outlet or leakage port open. The valve may be positively opened at any time, or the adjustment varied by turning the stem l2. lt will be noted that where the valve is raised it is entirely away from the seat. There being no obstructions in the casing to impede the passage of dirt or sediment, the casing is thoroughly washed out and cleaned L each time the valve is raised. The device is entirely automatic in operation, and noiseless, and there being but practically one movable part, there is nothing to be disarranged or get out of order. Should the renewable valve member seat 11 become worn it may be replaced or readjusted.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modilications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of our invention; hence we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination ot parts herein shown and describedbr'uses mentioned. p A

W' hat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable casing provided with an inlet and outlet, a float member arranged within said casing and having an opening therethrouga at the top thereof, a valve member for said outlet, said valve member carried by said float, and means loosely extending through the opening in the top of the member for limiting the up and down travel of the float. i

2. ln a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable casing provided with an inlet and outlet, a float member artlie valve is closed, as inf' ranged within said casing and having au Y openingtherethrough atthe top thereof, a f tubular valve member Yor'said" outlet, said valve member carried by said float, and adjustable vmeans loosely extending through the top opening of the iioat for limiting the raising and lowering of the float.

v 3. In aldevice of the kind described and in combination, a suitable casing provided with an inlet at one side,V andV with a cenf trally arranged Ydischarge outlet at the bottoni, said casing providedwith a valve seat at said outlet, a vertically movable tubular valve member arranged to .cooperate about its periphery with said valve seat, controlling means for said valve member' comprising a iioat member arranged within the casing and operatively connected withsaid valve member, said float member having an opening through the top communicating with the interior ofthe valve member, and means loosely Aextending Vthrough the opening in the top of the float member for limiting the upward and downward movement of said float. Y

4:. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable casing provided with a detachable top and with an inlet at one side and a discharge outlet at the bottom, a controlling tubular valve for said outlet provided with means for controlling the same Vcomprising a iioat secured thereto having an opening through thetop thereotl communicating with the interior of said 'tubular valve and open at its lower side,

said casing provided with a separable seat for said valve member, arranged to coperate with the outer side of the tubular valve member wall, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of the valve, comprising a rod carriedbv the top and loosely projecting into the float through the opening in the top `thereof and resilient means carried by said rod and engaging the oat.

5. ln a device of the kind described and in combination, asuitable casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, an inverted cupshaped float member karranged in said casing and provided with a downwardly yeX- tending centrally disposed tubular part, a tubular valve member arranged at the lower end of said tubular part and arrangedY to coperate with asuitable valve seat at said outlet, said float member having an open-V ingat the-top communicating with the interior of said tubular part and valve member, and means loosely pro]ecting through Vsaid opening into'y the valve member for limiting the upward and downward movement of the, float. Y

6. In a device of the kind described and in combination., a suitable casinghaving an inlet and outlet, and provided with a valve seat at said outlet, a tubular valveV memberr arranged to coperate with said valve seat,

and provided with a tubular stem extending to proximate the upper part of the casing, a float member arranged on the upper end of said stem, and guiding means for said valve and iioat, comprising a rod carried by the casing and loosely projecting through the float into the valve stem, and means arranged at the bottom of the valve and cooperating with the valve seat for guiding said valve.

7. In a device of the kind described, and

in combination, a casing having an inlet and outlet, a float arranged within said casing and provided with an opening extending therethrough, :t valve carried by said float for controlling the outlet, a rod carried by the casing and entering the opening in the top of the Hoat, and resilient means for limiting the travel of the iiOat.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a casing having an inlet and outlet port, a float Within said casing, a valve carried by the float, a rod carried by said casing and entering an opening in the float, resilient means arranged on said rod between the casing and the float andbetween the lower end of said rod and the float for limiting the travel of the float, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, a float Within said casing, a valve connected with the float for controlling the outlet opening, a member carried by said casing and disposed Within the interior thereof, and a yieldable means supported by said member for limiting the upward and downward movement of the float.

10. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a casing having an inlet and outlet opening, a float Within said casing, a valve carried by said float, and yieldable means arranged Within the upper portion of the casing for limiting the upward and downward movement of the float.

ll. In a device of the kind described, and

yin combination, a casing having an inlet and outlet opening, a float Within said casing having an opening therein, a valve carried by said float, a member supported by the casing and entering the opening in the float, and resilient means carried by Said member :for limiting the travel of the iioat.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ERNST A. PLOEGER. JOHN PENROSE. Witnesses ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for rive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, I), C. 

